Originally a hard working gun dog used to spending its days hunting the Labrador retriever has an altogether different image today. Now, Labs are considered to be ideal family pets and if you want the perfect picture of doggie cuteness than a Labrador puppy will fit the bill. Labs are loyal and faithful companions for their owners.

Very popular with dog owners around the world the Labrador retriever is a perennial favourite with all age groups. Their cute looks and playful nature make them great companions for the young and the old and they are often trusted with jobs such as police and emergency rescue work.

The Labs friendly nature and desire to please their human masters makes them ideal assistance dogs for the disabled or the deaf and they often used as therapeutic aids for people suffering from all manner of both physical and mental ailments.

Remarkably strong swimmers, Labrador retrievers like nothing more than playing in water and they will happily plunge into the sea or a river given the opportunity. The physical make up of the Lab with its otter style tail and waterproof coat means they are really at home in the water and will happily join their owners for a dip in the pool.

Unsurprisingly Labs are great retrievers and their breeding as gun dogs has left them with the ability to carry even the most fragile of objects in their mouths without damaging it. My Lab often brings me my reading glasses without a problem and it is said that they can carry an egg in their mouths without breaking it. Though they are likely to eat the egg as they do have quite ferocious appetites!

In general Labs are not markedly prone to having some of the negative traits found in some breeds. These include but are not limited to being hypersensitive, aggressive, insecure, pining nor territorial.

Labrador retrievers are especially wonderful with children because the Lab has an intense desire to not only please, but its desire to play is almost equal with its desire to eat! Children can spend hours playing catch with a ball, or a Frisbee, and the dog will appear to be tireless. They seem to literally thrive on human interaction, affection and attention.

Labs, as a breed, are exceedingly intelligent making them highly trainable though it is certainly true that they have great independence and can be quite stubborn in their behaviour.

Labs are also very curious creatures and they will happily investigate any new surroundings with great glee. If something attracts their attention, particularly the scent of food, they will determinedly seek it out. Similarly they will happily trot after a person they havent met before simply to check them out.

Because of their friendly nature and tendency to roam they can often go missing or, worse, be tempted away from their homes. It is highly recommended therefore that Lab owners arrange for their dogs to be micro-chipped or, at the very least, to have the owners contact details on their collars.

When it comes to health issues Labs do have a tendency to put on weight because of their enormous appetites and need regular exercise to help them keep in shape. Other health concerns include hip dysplasia as Labs are prone to suffer problems with their joints and hips and often develop arthritis in their later years.

But, those minor health concerns aside, it has to be said that, for many of us, Labrador retrievers are as close as you can come to having the perfect family pet!

Looking for the best guide to Labrador Retreivers - look no further than the Labrador Retriever Guide an online resource for all Labrador owners including a full history of the Labrador Retriever

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Written by Toby Le Rock using tags: animal, animals, dog, Dogs, Home, labrador retriever, labrador retrievers, pet, Pets